Artist of the
Month: BRITTNEY CHANTELE
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FEBRUARY ARTIST OF THE MONTH: BRITTNEY CHANTELE
INTERVIEW
I had the pleasure to talk to a young artist on the rise this month Brittney Chantele. From being a solider to an artist she conducts herself with composure, confidence, and respect. I chose her as our first Artist of the Month, because I wanted to take a closer look at the mind of a young woman who has taken her experiences and cultivated them into beautiful works. She is truly a visionary and it shows through her answers in this interview.
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LIV MARIE BEHM
You are a multidimensional as well as multitalented artist. For you, which medium of art is your favorite form of expression?
I've been going back and forth recently on trying to pick which medium of art is my favorite form of expression. It's a question I've been asked a lot recently due to finally showing my visual art. I have come to the conclusion that I don't have a favorite - each medium serves me in different ways and in different times. To be more specific, music is sometimes the medium I need in order to express a certain emotion over poetry. Hand in hand, visual art may be the medium I need at the time in order to express a certain emotion over music.
During the photo session, we spoke about your time in the military. What would you say was the hardest part about being a lesbian, with the ‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ policy in effect?
During a small portion of my time in the military, the 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy was still in effect. The most difficult portion of this time was not knowing who really had your back.
For instance: you would begin to tell someone whom you thought you could trust that you were within the LGBTQ community and they would be very receptive and understanding during the conversation. However, they would almost immediately go to the higher ranking individuals and tell them what you disclosed to them. Some individuals even held it over your head, and used it as a bribe. I felt like my life had to be a secret - which makes it difficult to build close relationships with people whom are supposed to know you and have your back.
On November 3rd, 2017 you released your second EP, ‘Labels’; what was your inspiration for the music you wrote for the Album?
As with the majority of my music, poetry, and visual art, you can easily find social and environmental justice movements as well as making a change/difference as recurring themes. However, I started to really sit with the experiences of my childhood, and who knew life would still be this complicated after all these years? The labels people tried to assign me before even knowing me is why I tried to hide behind who I really am. I realized I am the only one who can assign myself labels.
I don't have any titles to 'live up to' - and I cannot start or move a movement if I am letting others prescribe me labels that I don't agree with or want - it's distracting - so I wrote a song about it. 'Labels' was also slightly different than my previous EP, 'Faith In Humanity.' I decided to put two jams on there relating to queer love. I thought to myself, my relationships and queerness is a huge part of my life - why am I not singing about it?
What would you say is the biggest issue for young women in your generation today and how has this affected you?
Whoa! The biggest?
There's so many! I don't think I can call out which one is the biggest, but one that is for sure an issue for women and has effected me is the lack of women in leadership positions. I once read that in a list of the CEOs of the top 1500 companies in the world, for each woman in that list, there were four males. Of course that's not at the vault of women and of course this is just an example - but we see this almost everywhere, not just in large companies.
You recently opened for Flobots at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA, how was your experience?
Opening for Flobots was a manifestation I spoke aloud on December 31st, 2016 in Denver, CO. They opened for Nahko and Medicine for the People, who inspired me to start recording my music back in 2016! I went to Denver solo, decided to stay sober, and had one of the best NYE celebrations of my life. I whispered to myself, "I will open up for Flobots in a year." I did just that...well...1 year and 23 days to be exact! It was moving, enlightening, and it just felt right.
After the performance I told those closest to me that being a touring artist is what I was meant to do.
Any stress that occurred before the show was worth it. I have never had a job where I could say the stress was worth it. This is more than what I want to do, I need to do it.
What projects should we look to see from you in 2018?
Music wise...an album...a really really dope album. As well as more performances that entertain the attendees and music videos.
Poetry wise...a new spoken word EP as well as more spoken word videos.
Visual Art wise...more shows including one opening on First Friday of April at Level Up dance studio on Penn Ave.! Plus I'm always painting so I'm excited to show the newer work I'm creating!
As a young civil rights activist, do you think racism will ever be dispelled completely?
In my lifetime? I truly do not believe it will be dispelled completely. I do believe these younger generations are demanding more truthfulness and realness. We are becoming less tolerant of the bs and asking questions. We are questioning instead of just believing. I like that... and if we are going to dispel racism - I think those are powerful steps to do so.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where and why?
Whoa...I actually haven't given this much thought. I really like cities but I also enjoy nature. I also don't stay in one place for very long...you can see that from my resume and address changes. I think Germany would be cool, after all that's where my mom is from and I have family there that I haven't met yet!
Do you have a motto in life?
"...Peace, Love, and Hope..." as well as, "Do no harm - but take no shit!"
What inspired you to bring your art series ‘The Golden Opportunity’ to life?
I wanted to shed light on some issues within the military that not many individuals are talking about. I wanted to define "service" and what that truly means to me as a person who has been in the military. I also wanted to express the fact that the military may not be this "Golden Opportunity" that most people make it out to be.
Website: https://www.brittneychantele.com
EPK (can be shared with artists or music festivals who are looking for an opening act and attempting to book a musical performance): https://www.brittneychantele.com/epk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittneychantele/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/B_Chantele
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittneychantele
Lyrics: https://genius.com/albums/Brittney-chantele/Labels
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdk9vBSQNK7FmIXp15rezXA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rttieBAJBZ91CAem8ENo1
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/b_chantele
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/brittney-chantele/id1120521554